Question

I have my target language in Session[“lang”], which is either “en” or “it”. I have added this to the Site.master:

<script runat="server">
  void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) {
    string lang = Session["lang"].ToString();
    System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = System.Globalization.CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(lang);
    System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = System.Globalization.CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(lang);
  }
</script>

Then I’d like to invoke a resource string like this:

<asp:Label ID="Label1" runat="server" Text="<%$ Resources:Global, test %>"></asp:Label>

I have two files in the App_GlobalResources, named Global.resx and Global.en.resx.

The problems is that no matter what is in the lang variable, I always get the results from the main Global.resx, and I never get the english version from Global.en.resx

I am doing this wrong entirely??

I tried putting the System.Threading… part in the Application_PreRequestHandlerExecute method in Global.asax.cs but the result was the same.

Thanks

PS: I am asking about a way to make this work in a simple way. If I was to use the complicate way, I’d go with this: http://helios.ca/2009/05/27/aspnet-mvc-and-localization/

Answer 1

i had the same dilema(how to implement localization) in my asp.net mvc app.

I followed the instructions posted here and it works like a charm.

So i created a folder named Localization under Content and then i create Resources resx files for each language i want to translate. Keep in mind that there is a convention for the resx file names. ie

Resources.resx is the default fall back for everything.

Resources.en-GB.resx is for english GB

Resources.en-US.resx is for english US

etc.

Just make sure you follow the instructions posted in the link to embed and make the Resources available in all places in your app (views, controllers etc)

Edit:

I want to add that i ommited this line from web.config since i wanted to manually set the local from my app.

<globalization uiCulture="auto" culture="auto"/>

Instead i have created the following class:

    public class SmartController : Controller
{
    public SmartController()
    {
        System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = CultureInfo.GetCultureInfo("en-US");
        System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = CultureInfo.GetCultureInfo("en-US");
    }
}

All controllers inherit from this class.

Since this is an administrative set of the locale i have to set it from my apps settings. You could read it from Cookies and set it, or otherwise. This is imo the simplest solution for localization that i have encountered so far.

Once implemented you can refer to any string you add by the following simple line of code, no extra code needed.

<%= Resources.Strings.TranslatedTerm %>